Kees van Koeveringe – Jeweler and stationery store van der Maarl-Walhout

In the center of the renowned narrow town of Sint-Maartensdijk, the Jeweler and Office Bookstore Van der Maarl – Walhout has been on the market since 1969. In 1960 Kees' in-laws started a jewelry and optician's shop and some household items, after which they moved to the Markt in 1969. Kees' wife, Tiny, has been in the shop since 1979. In 1985 Kees came into the beautiful store through his marriage to Tiny. Optics and household items went out and all the attention turned to the jewelry department and the books. Since 1991, a Post.nl branch was added.

Kees and Tiny manage the business together, but have employed two staff members from the start. Kees had a thing for gold and jewelry for a long time because his father was a goldsmith in Goes. No wonder Kees took care of the jewelery and jewelry. ,,I can enjoy it so much that customers leave satisfied. Whether it's a beautiful necklace from a girl or a wedding ring, it doesn't matter.” Tiny thinks it is very important that people read and is very interested in books. She mainly tries to emphasize the educational. Kees: ,,As far as office supplies are concerned, it is increasingly aimed at individuals and no longer at companies."

Service

Kees finds personal attention for the customer very important. “Quality and service are key. In principle we have everything, but of course we can never offer as much as on the internet. I am convinced that everyone can make a good choice here.” Small repairs and little things like batteries are all delivered here. People can always go there. That's an additional service. Customers come from all over the municipality of Tholen when it comes to jewelery and jewelry. For the other necessities, people mainly come from Smerdiek and the surrounding places. If Kees looks to the future, he would like to continue for another five years in the same way as now. “We are adapting, but major renovations such as in 1988 and 1991 are no longer possible.”

Meeting place

The tourists have been missed in recent years because they often came to get a present, but that was due to corona. Kees thinks it is very important that the local shops continue to exist. “That's why everyone should do their best to buy locally as much as possible. It is also a social event. We take all the time to talk to the customers and they also talk to each other a lot. The shop is really a meeting place and that has only increased because of the post office. We don't need chat boxes here.” Kees does wonder how the local shops can reach young people between the ages of sixteen and thirty. “We must not forget this important group. Local shops maintain the quality of life.”